Platoon- Review

Coated in heartbreak, betrayal and vengeance; this film aims to show its audience another perspective on life in Vietnam through the eyes of a young soldier and how one event can simultaneously divide individuals and bring them together. Directed by Oliver stone, it features the talents of Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe.

In 1967, a new batch of fresh-faced troops are sent to fight in Vietnam without a clue of who to trust and the coping of lost brotherhood.

The performances: Charlie Sheen plays the role of Private First Class Chris Taylor, an army volunteer who suggests that he has nothing better to do. Charlie perfectly captures his role of Chris Taylor and makes it his own. Successfully, he portrays his character as relatable and one that doesn't shy away from humane emotions and responses to triggers of war.

Tom Berenger plays the role of Sergeant Robert Barnes, a disfigured and stone-faced man with no sympathy or patience for incompetent soldiers. This was one of many roles within the film that accurately portrayed other qualities of war; lack of sympathy/ empathy, abuse of leadership in desperate times and the turning of oneself onto another.

Willem Dafoe plays the role of Sergeant Gordon Elias, a mild-mannered and idealistic man who aims to strategise directly while simultaneously attempting to make the platoon a slightly more comfortable place amidst a raging war. I liked Willem's characterisation with Elias and for the duration of his time in this film, gives off a small sense of hope and humanity.

This film was another fine selection that I did not have any issues with. It was a well crafted film, touching on Oliver Stone's own experiences of Vietnam throughout his time there in 1968. Also, it was a developed version of a semi-autobiographical film Stone was working on in that time with the intention of Jim Morrison playing the lead. When those plans fell through (for a number of reasons), he later developed some of the original characters from that W.I.P to Platoon.

Unlike Full Metal Jacket but equally as entertaining, Platoon covers a more serious and heavy-hearted atmosphere and perspective towards the Vietnam War with only some humour in the dialogue.

Score: 9/10.